draft bois d’arc conservation area · pdf filedraft november 2017 bois d’arc...

DRAFT Bois D’Arc

Conservation Area

Fifteen-Year Area Management Plan FY 2018-2032

To submit a comment on this document, click on the following link: https://mdc.mo.gov/node/10013?ap=191886

https://mdc.mo.gov/node/10013?ap=191886

DRAFT November 2017 Bois D’Arc Conservation Area Management Plan

OVERVIEW • Official Area Name: Bois D’Arc Conservation Area, #8517 • Year of Initial Acquisition: 1985 • Acreage: 3,172 acres • County: Greene • Division with Administrative Responsibility: Wildlife • Division with Maintenance Responsibility: Wildlife • Statements of Purpose:

A. Strategic Direction Manage for wildlife, woodland, grassland, glade, old field, and cropland resources with emphasis on quail and upland wildlife.

B. Desired Future Condition The desired future condition of Bois D’Arc Conservation Area (CA) is an area that provides habitat to support a healthy Northern bobwhite quail population, upland wildlife, and species of concern.

C. Federal Aid Statement This area, or a portion thereof, was acquired with Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds to restore and manage wildlife, conserve and restore suitable wildlife habitat, and provide public access for hunting or other wildlife-oriented recreation.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS

I. Special Considerations A. Priority Areas: Quail Emphasis Area B. Natural Areas: None

II. Important Natural Features and Resources

A. Species of Conservation Concern: Species of conservation concern are known from this area. Area managers should consult the Natural Heritage Database annually and review all management activities with the natural history biologist.

B. Caves: Yes, records kept with Missouri Department of Conservation (Department) natural history biologist. Managers should follow the Cave Management policy found in the Department’s Resource Policy Manual. All caves on this and other conservation areas are closed or restricted to public access. The fungus that causes White-nose Syndrome in bats has been documented in Missouri, resulting in the Department’s White-nose Syndrome Action Plan that limits public access to protect bats.

C. Springs: Yes, records kept with Department natural history biologist.


D. Other: Bois D’Arc CA is located in the Ozark Highlands Section, Springfield Plains Subsection, Upper Sac River Oak Savanna Woodland Low Hills Landtype Association and Springfield Karst Prairie Plain Landtype Association (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002).

III. Existing Infrastructure

• Twenty-one gravel parking lots (two are American with Disabilities Act [ADA] accessible, with concrete pads)

• Osage Orange Hiking Trail (5 miles) • Fourteen ponds (4.5 acres total), including 13 non-stocked ponds and one stocked

educational fishing pond with pavilion • Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center (ADA accessible) • One dove hunting blind (ADA accessible) • Field archery range (with two unmanned 14-point archery ranges) • Two restrooms (ADA accessible)

IV. Area Restrictions or Limitations

A. Deed Restrictions or Ownership Considerations: None Federal Interest: Uses of land acquired with federal funds may not interfere with the purpose for which it was acquired. Federal funds may also be used in the management of this land. Fish and wildlife agencies may not allow recreational activities and related facilities that would interfere with the purpose for which the State is managing the land. Other uses may be acceptable and must be assessed in each specific situation.

A. Easements: Yes, powerline easement with City of Springfield; and telephone, electric, road utility, and gas pipeline easements exist with Missouri Gas Energy and Cherokee Gas Companies.

B. Cultural Resources Findings: Yes, records kept with Department environmental compliance specialist. Managers should follow best management practices for cultural resources found in the Department Resource Policy Manual.

C. Endangered Species: Endangered species are known from this area. Area managers should consult the Natural Heritage Database annually and review all management activities with the natural history biologist.

D. Boundary Issues: None


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

V. Terrestrial Resource Management Considerations

Bois D’Arc CA contains approximately 695 acres of woodlands. Woodland management will be directed at maintaining a healthy natural community for wildlife habitat. There are approximately 62 acres of impounded water, wetlands, and moist soil units that will be managed for healthy natural communities. There are approximately 900 acres of old fields, 700 acres of grasslands, and 600 acres of openland that will be managed for healthy natural communities and wildlife benefit. Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Manage woodland community. 2) Maintain healthy moist soil/wetland habitats. 3) Maintain grasslands, emphasizing native warm-season grasses and forbs. 4) Maintain openland with rotational cereal grain crops for quail, dove, and upland

wildlife benefit.

Management Objective 1: Maintain healthy woodlands and forests. Strategy 1: Monitor woodlands for invasive vegetation, diseases, and insects. Suppress any infestations that may develop. (Forestry, Wildlife) Strategy 2: Retain and protect existing den trees. (Forestry) Strategy 3: Maintain and restore open woodlands to promote herbaceous groundcover based on a forest inventory. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 2: Maintain healthy wetland habitats. Strategy 1: Monitor wetland areas for invasive species. Suppress any infestations that may develop. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Maintain native vegetation around the shoreline. Reduce woody encroachments around the shoreline as needed. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 3: Maintain grasslands. Strategy 1: Maintain grasslands and forbs by mechanical, biological, and chemical methods, as needed. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Control and set-back woody succession using appropriate methods, including prescribed burns. (Wildlife) Strategy 3: Monitor the area for invasive species. Suppress any infestations that may develop using appropriate methods. (Wildlife)


Management Objective 4: Maintain rotational openlands. Strategy 1: Plant and maintain openland by utilizing Agricultural Crop permits and Department planted materials. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Monitor openlands for invasive species. Suppress any infestations that may develop using appropriate methods. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 5: Maintain old fields.

Strategy 1: Disturb early successional old fields, as needed, to maintain wildlife habitats using appropriate methods. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Monitor old fields for invasive species. Suppress any infestations that may develop using the appropriate methods. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 6: Monitor quail populations.

Strategy 1: Annually monitor quail populations by fall covey counts and summer songbird counts, and evaluate appropriate management techniques. (Wildlife)

VI. Aquatic Resource Management Considerations

Aquatic features on the area consist of several headwater streams, small ponds, and karst features, such as springs, caves, and sinkholes. First- and second-order streams on the area total over 11 miles in length. Most of these are ephemeral with flows dependent on surface runoff. The third-order streams on the area, Sawdey Branch, and one of its tributaries provide an additional 1.6 miles of stream habitat. These streams are more intermittent with some permanent reaches. The area itself also borders 0.2 miles of Clear Creek (a fourth-order stream). Due to the limited size of these streams, angling opportunities are limited. The area also contains 14 ponds (4.5 acres total), including one educational fishing pond and 13 non-stocked ponds. The educational pond is periodically stocked with channel catfish and hybrid sunfish. Fishing is for educational groups by reservation only, through the Southwest Regional Office. The non-stocked ponds are not managed for fishing. Many of the non-stocked ponds are shallow and are primarily used as wildlife watering holes and amphibian habitat. Those that hold water year-round may provide the opportunity for anglers to opportunistically catch a few sunfish. Karst features are found throughout the area. Currently, there are 12 known sinkholes on the area and they provide direct connectivity to groundwater resources. The area also has three springs; two of them contribute water to Sawdey Branch. Another spring contributes flow to a tributary of Clear Creek. The area also has documented caves, but


they are closed to public access due to concerns of transmission of White-Nose Syndrome to cave wildlife.

Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Many impoundments have poor water holding ability due to soil constraints. 2) Protect several miles of stream frontage and spring features. 3) Protect karst features, such as sinkholes, springs, and caves that are found on the

area.

Management Objective 1: Maintain and/or enhance functionality and quality of streams on the area.

Strategy 1: Continue to implement stream best management practices, as outlined in the Department’s Watershed and Stream Management Guidelines (Missouri Department of Conservation, 2009). (Wildlife, Fisheries) Strategy 2: Address channel and streambank instability, as needed. (Fisheries)

Management Objective 2: Protect groundwater quality.

Strategy 1: Establish/maintain vegetative buffer zones at least 100 feet wide around all known karst features. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Limit application of herbicides within karst buffer zones to spot treatments of non-restricted use products. (Wildlife) Strategy 3: Avoid the application of fertilizer or other nutrients within karst buffer zones. (Wildlife)

VII. Public Use Management Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities: 1) Provide hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. 2) Improve educational and interpretive opportunities. 3) Build relationships with neighboring landowners.

Management Objective 1: Provide public hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Strategy 1: Conduct annual management activities that will provide habitat for a diversity of species. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 2: Improve educational and interpretive opportunities on Bois D’Arc CA.

Strategy 1: Communicate recreational opportunities to the public (e.g., using brochures, Atlas database). (Wildlife)


Strategy 2: Communicate the uniqueness of the area to teachers, students, scout groups, and youth groups to facilitate as a possible destination for ecology classes, school programs, and workshops. (Outreach and Education)

Management Objective 3: Facilitate a good working relationship with neighboring landowners.

Strategy 1: Continue to work with neighbors to minimize any boundary, trespass, or other issues affecting Bois D’Arc CA or private property. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Promote habitat management on neighboring landowner properties. (Private Land Services)

VIII. Administrative Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Maintain area infrastructure at current levels. 2) Consider acquisition of land, when available.

Management Objective 1: Maintain area infrastructure at current levels.

Strategy 1: Maintain area infrastructure in accordance with Department guidelines. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Maintain the soft safety perimeter and coordinate all wildlife habitat management inside the hard safety perimeter of the Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center Complex. (Wildlife)

Lands Proposed for Acquisition:

When available, adjacent land may be considered for acquisition from willing sellers. Tracts that improve area access, provide public use opportunities, contain unique natural communities and/or species of conservation concern, or meet other Department priorities, as identified in the annual Department land acquisition priorities, may be considered.

MANAGEMENT TIMETABLE All strategies for this management plan are considered ongoing.


APPENDICES Area Background: Bois D’Arc Conservation Area (CA) is located in western Greene County. The area is mainly open fields (pasture and cropland) with several small ponds and drainages. The area shares its name with the town of Bois D’Arc, which is located 1 mile south of the area. The actual name, Bois D’Arc comes from the French language, meaning “arc of wood.” Osage Indians used the sturdy limbs of the Osage orange trees, which are a dominate tree species on the area, to make their bows. The Osage, Sac, Kickapoo, Delaware, and other Native American tribes hunted and fished parts of Greene County. The first permanent settlement in Greene County was in 1818. At the time of settlement, approximately 60 percent of the area was prairie. Most of the rest of the area was glade and woodland. By 1830, Springfield had become an established trading center, and many settlers were coming to the area. Farming was the principal industry for the area, and farmers outside the immediate Springfield area lived by subsistence cropping and raising livestock. By the 1870s, a network of railroads had been established, and agriculture in Greene County exploded. When the Department purchased the initial tracts of land that became Bois D’Arc CA in the mid-1980s, over 83 percent of the area was in fescue pasture or legume hay. The east side of the area was historically glade and savanna habitats, while the west side of the area was predominantly prairie. A portion of the Leeper prairie extended onto the western portion of the area. There have been eight land purchases to acquire the Bois D’Arc CA. The first, from Ed and Ted Richter in 1985 totaled 1,812 acres. There were five purchases in 1986, totaling 1,055 acres; 160 acres from Joe Coppage, 435 acres from Lee McClean, and 460 acres from three other families. In 1988 the Department purchased 25 acres from Alma Appleby, and in 2001, 280 acres were purchased from T. B. Coppage. Bois D’Arc CA was purchased as a bobwhite quail emphasis area. Bobwhite quail emphasis areas were designated in the 1980s to improve populations. The primary justification for bobwhite quail emphasis areas included recreation and demonstration of suitable bobwhite quail habitat and harvest management. Since its purchase in 1985, contour strip farming, food plots, and plantings were established along with a prescribed burn schedule to encourage early successional habitats and native plant species. Primary woodland cover types consist of oak, hickory, ash, and eastern redcedar, associated with shallow soils and rocky outcroppings. Abundant understory species include


flowering dogwood, wild plum, persimmon, wild grape, hawthorn, and greenbrier. Native plants within the unit consist of many species of asters, big and little bluestem, broomsedge, sideoats grama, and partridge pea. The old fields are typically invaded with honey locust, black locust, wild plum, and sumac. The Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center is situated on 65 acres within the Bois D’Arc CA. The entire Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center facility, the hard safety perimeter, and all of the acreage within the hard safety perimeter is operated, managed, and maintained by staff from the Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center. Current Land and Water Types: Land Type Acres Miles % of Area Old Fields/Upland Fields 900 28 Openlands 700 22 Upland Forest/Woodland 652 21 Warm-Season Grass Fields 600 19 WSG Contour Strips 100 3 Shooting Ranges 65 2 Ephemeral Wetlands 52 2 Glade 43 1 Bottomland/Riparian Forest 25 1 Sinkholes 25 1 Impounded Water 10 <1 Total 3,172 100 Stream Frontage 12.3

Public Input Summary: Prior to writing this draft area management plan, the Department conducted a public input process (Bois D’Arc Conservation Area Idea Gathering Stage) from Jan. 1-31, 2017. The objective of this phase was to inform stakeholders about the area planning process and ask them to share their ideas. To communicate about this comment period, Department staff:

• Posted an online comment form available at mdc.mo.gov/areaplans; • Sent news release to local media outlets in early January and posted to Missouri

Department of Conservation Facebook and Twitter accounts; • Sent announcement to area plan email list (8,000+ recipients); • Posted notices on bulletin boards in and around Bois D’Arc CA; • Contacted neighboring landowners about comment opportunity; • Announced the comment opportunity at public programs; and


• Provided fliers at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center and regional office. The Department received input from 34 respondents (see “Bois D’Arc Conservation Area Idea Gathering Stage Public Input Summary” at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z5Z). The area planning team took comments into consideration as they drafted this 15-year management plan for the conservation area. A brief summary of public input themes, including how they will be incorporated or why they will not be included, can be found in Appendix A. References: Missouri Department of Conservation. (2009). Watershed and stream management guidelines for lands and waters managed by Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Department of Conservation. Nigh, T. A. & Schroeder, W. A. (2002). Atlas of Missouri ecoregions. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Department of Conservation. Maps: Figure 1: Vicinity Map Figure 2: Area Map Figure 3: Aerial Map Figure 4: Easement Map Figure 5: Land Cover Map Additional Appendices: Appendix A: Department Responses to Public Comments – Bois D’Arc Conservation Area Idea Gathering Stage (Jan. 1-31, 2017)

http://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z5Z


Figure 1: Vicinity Map


Figure 2: Area Map


Figure 3: Aerial Map


Figure 4: Easement Map


Figure 5: Land Cover Map


Appendix A: Department Responses to Public Comments – Bois D’ Arc Conservation Area Idea Gathering Stage (Jan. 1-31, 2017) The draft Bois D’ Arc Conservation Area Idea Gathering Stage was available for a public idea gathering period Jan. 1-31, 2017. The Missouri Department of Conservation received 36 comments from 34 respondents (Appendix A). The Bois D’ Arc Conservation Area Planning Team carefully reviewed and considered these ideas as they finalized this document. A brief summary of public input themes, including how they were incorporated or why they were not, can be found below. Rather than respond to each individual comment, comments are grouped into general themes and are addressed collectively. Terrestrial Resource Management Suggests better control of invasive species, such as thistle and Johnson grass. Management on the area currently focuses on upland game and quail management. This includes treatment of invasive species using chemical, mechanical, and biological methods. Suggests more widespread use of prescribed fire. Prescribed fire is applied to approximately 23 percent of the area annually. Opposes timber cutting. Salvage timber sales have been completed on the area in the past due to weather related damage to trees. Suggests removing brush and trees with a dozer instead of a Kansas clipper. Hedge rows are manipulated with a dozer and old fields and glades are manipulated with a tree shear. Suggests hinge cutting trees to provide rabbit cover. Hinge cutting cedars for living edge habitat is completed periodically. Suggests thinning vegetation to provide better habitat for small game, such as rabbit, quail, dove, and other upland species. Suggests clearing brush so lands are more accessible for bow hunters. Trails and old fields are manipulated periodically with mechanical equipment for these purposes. Suggests more intensive management of quail habitat. Row crops planted by Department and permittee farmers are part of the quail management on Bois D’Arc CA. Additionally, prescribed burning and mechanical and biological treatments are ongoing management practices.


Suggests managing for milkweeds to support monarch butterflies. Native milkweeds on the area are increasing due to the use of prescribed burns. In addition, supplementing milkweed populations with plantings is planned. Suggests establishing a grazing system on parts of the area. There currently are no plans to use grazing as a management tool on the area. Opposes cattle on Department lands. There currently are no plans to use grazing as a management tool on the area. Neighbors would like to be informed when prescribed burns will occur. Landowners should leave their contact information at the area headquarters, located on FR 94, if they would like to be contacted when prescribed burns will be conducted on the area. Would like to see more emphasis on glade management. Glades are prescribe burned and mechanically thinned periodically to keep them open. Suggests adding lime to fields to adjust soil pH to 6.5 or 7.0. Fields area limed and fertilized periodically to meet soil test suggestions. Suggests constructing thick loose brush piles (of wheatgrass, alfalfa, lespedeza, and clover) outside of rabbit dens to be used for nesting. A number of brush piles are located across the entire area. Native grasses and forbs are used for nesting. Suggests placing mineral salt near breeding rabbit dens to increase rabbit reproduction. Currently there are no plans to add mineral blocks for rabbits on the area. Suggests rotating dove field locations and rotating crops. Dove fields are rotated to different locations on the area each year. Public Use Management Hunting Supports continued focus on the management of upland game birds (especially quail, dove, and pheasant) and rabbits. Current management on the area focuses on upland game and quail habitat.


Suggests starting a state-managed program for raising and releasing quail to hunt. Currently there are no plans to raise and release quail for hunting; instead, plans are to create habitat for naturally reproducing quail. Suggests having managed hunts to make the area safer. Concerned about the safety of hunting on opening day of dove season (due to the number of hunters and observations of unsafe rifle handling practices). Dove season draws a large number of hunters and we continue to encourage safety during opening day. The area is a no single projectile area; so, rifles are not used during dove season. Suggests closing the area after archery season to have a managed predator hunt with rifles. Coyotes can be hunted with shotgun or archery methods. No single projectiles. Suggests allowing coyote hunting. Coyotes can be hunted with shotgun or archery methods. No single projectiles. Suggests prohibiting lead shot. The Department continues to investigate the use of non-toxic shot and its multifaceted impacts on wildlife and hunters. Suggests adding youth hunts to the area. Currently there is a managed hunt for disabled citizens on the area. Currently there are a number of youth hunting clinics on the area offered through the Andy Dalton Shooting Range programs. Suggests emphasizing “no single projectile” firearms. Regulations will continue to restrict single projectile firearms, except in the case of Department affiliated managed hunts that may allow muzzleloaders. Suggests controlling deer population. Current archery hunting methods allow for harvest of deer and help to manage the deer population on the area. Trails Suggests allowing horseback riding on area trails. The area management team suggests keeping the current 5 miles of hiking trails intact. Horse trails are available within 30 miles at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area, Compton Hollow Conservation Area, and on U.S. Forest Service Lands.


Offers to partner with the Department in developing and maintaining horse riding trails. The team recommends that trail use not be expanded to bicycling and horses trails due to potential conflicts and safety issues between users/hunters and sensitive karst areas. Horse trails are available within 30 miles at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area, Compton Hollow Conservation Area, and on U.S. Forest Service Lands. Suggests mowing trails more frequently. Trails are mowed periodically throughout the year with nesting seasons avoided. Suggests allowing cycling on area trails. Over 30 miles of bicycle trails are available within 5 miles of the area on the Frisco Hi-Line Trail. Opposes allowing bicycles on trails. Bicycles are not allowed on trails. Supports limiting the area to foot traffic (with the exception of disability access) in order to protect the area’s karst terrain (sinkholes, caves, etc.). Foot traffic is allowed on the area. Mechanical equipment is used on the area for farming, prescribed fire, and wildfire control. Suggests maintaining benches along trail. Trail benches are maintained, as needed, throughout the year. Shooting Range and Training Center Would like a long-range rifle range (300-1,000 yards). Due to space limitations and the Department Range Management and Development Plan, a long-range rifle range would require a large amount of buffer and it would be difficult to meet Department safety guidelines. Suggests adding another skeet field. Currently, adding trap skeet overlays to existing fields is being considered. The range crew is outstanding and very professional. The Department continues to value the work and dedication of the staff and volunteers at the range. Values the rifle and archery ranges. The Department values the public’s opinions about facilities provided.


Would not support the expansion of ranges at the expense of hunting areas. Short-range goals of the Department do not include expansion of the range at this time. Suggests organizing skeet shooting leagues. Limited staff and volunteer hours currently dictate the hours at the range and the limitations on range staff to organize skeet shooting leagues. Suggests expanding hours to accommodate working public. Hours of the range are also under review for this facility. The range is open on weekends to accommodate those that work during the week. Area Maintenance Supports the removal of fences. Existing fences are being removed on the area, as time and budget allows. Concern that trash is dumped behind the maintenance shed. Occasionally, the area behind the maintenance shed is used to stockpile used building material that will be removed. Concern that gates are left open, allowing people to drive in unpermitted areas. Gates are left open when contractors or staff conduct management activities on the area. Suggests bush-hogging weeds in the right of way. Greene County and Missouri Department of Transportation mow the road right of way around the area. Appreciates areas along the road being mowed. Mowing these areas has improved visibility for drivers and has helped hunters be more aware of area boundaries. Greene County and Missouri Department of Transportation mow the road right of way around the area. The Department mows interior roads and boundary lines periodically. Enforcement Suggests adding night surveillance in the parking lots. Night surveillance is regularly conducted on the area and at the area parking lots by Department conservation agents and the Greene County Sheriff.


Administrative Considerations A neighboring landowner would like to dispose of land and is looking for suggestions from the Department. Those interested in offering their land for sale to the Department should contact the Realty Office in Jefferson City to request a Land Offer Information Form or they can contact the Department Southwest Regional Office. A neighboring landowner requests assistance from the Department in maintaining the boundary fence. Contact the staff at the Area Headquarters to discuss fencing options. Boundary signs should be placed closer to homes. Neighboring landowner feels unsafe seeing people with guns walking near her property. Hunters have also shot close to the home. All boundaries between private land and Department land are posted and the boundaries are regularly maintained. If issues arise, neighbors are encouraged to contact the conservation agent or the Greene County sheriff. General Comments Highly regards how the area is managed. Appreciates the variety of hunting and recreational opportunities provided at the area. We appreciate our area users and those that value conservation of Missouri’s public lands.

To submit a comment on this document, click on the following link: https://mdc.mo.gov/node/10013?ap=191886

https://mdc.mo.gov/node/10013?ap=191886

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